
Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars is officially underway, and the competition is already intense.
All 14 couples performed their first routines and were critiqued and scored by judges Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli. The two were without fellow judge Carrie Ann Inaba, who was missing due to illness.
At the end of the night, Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt and her partner Mark Ballas were tied atop the leaderboard with wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson. Each couple scored 15 out of a possible 20 points from the judges.
The competition will resume next Tuesday and include a double elimination — the first of the season.
Season 34 of the beloved dance competition series, co-hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, features a mix of reality TV stars, athletes, and other pop culture personalities.
New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.
Key Points
- Full cast revealed for Season 34 of 'DWTS'
- Judge Carrie Ann Inaba will not be present for Tuesday's episode
- Pro dancer Daniella Karagach spoke to 'The Independent' about 'mom guilt' before premiere
Our live coverage has ended!
03:10 , Caitlin HornikThanks for following along. Here's more from us on Dancing With the Stars.
Caitlin Hornik reports:

DWTS pro Daniella Karagach on intimacy and relationships with dance partners
Season 34 cast revealed
Tuesday 16 September 2025 20:45 , Caitlin HornikHere is this year’s cast in full, plus their pro dancer pairings:
- Jordan Chiles (with Ezra Sosa) — Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast
- Lauren Jauregui (with Brandon Armstrong) — Fifth Harmony singer
- Dylan Efron (with Daniella Karagach) — Reality TV personality and brother of actor Zac Efron
- Corey Feldman (with Jenna Johnson) — Eighties film star of Gremlins, The Goonies and Stand by Me
- Hilaria Baldwin (with Gleb Savchenko) — Yoga instructor, podcaster and wife of actor Alec Baldwin
- Andy Richter (with Emma Slater) — Comedian and former sidekick of Conan O'Brien
- Danielle Fishel (with Pasha Pashkov) — Star of Boy Meets World
- Elaine Hendrix (with Alan Bersten) — Actor known for her role as Meredith Blake in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap
- Scott Hoying (Rylee Arnold) — Pentatonix singer
- Robert Irwin (Witney Carson) — Wildlife conservationist and son of the late Steve Irwin
- Alix Earle (with Val Chmerkovskiy) — Social media influencer and host of the Hot Mess podcast
- Jen Affleck (with Jan Ravnik) — Star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
- Whitney Leavitt (with Mark Ballas) — Also from The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
- Baron Davis (with Britt Stewart) — Two-time NBA All-Star
Carrie Ann Inaba will not be judging during Tuesday's premiere
Tuesday 16 September 2025 20:48 , Caitlin HornikInaba is “under the weather” and won’t be present during the first week of the competition series.
She shared the news hours before the show’s premiere via Instagram, wishing everyone luck.
Mark Ballas returns
Tuesday 16 September 2025 21:11 , Caitlin HornikPro dancer Mark Ballas is returning from retirement to compete this season.
He departed the show in 2023 after winning his third Mirrorball trophy with Charli D'Amelio.
Ballas competed in 20 seasons prior to his exit.
Co-hosts and judges returning for another year
Tuesday 16 September 2025 21:21 , Caitlin HornikSeason 34 of DWTS will welcome back co-hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough, in addition to the returning judging panel made up of Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli.
Pro dancer Daniella Karagach opens up about 'mom guilt'
Tuesday 16 September 2025 21:37 , Caitlin HornikSpeaking to The Independent ahead of the show’s premiere, the 32-year-old said she’s “so excited” to get started with her partner: The Traitors breakout star Dylan Efron.
However, the excitement is bittersweet. Karagach knows the weeks ahead will bring long days and late nights away from her young daughter.
Married to fellow DWTS pro Pasha Pashkov for more than a decade, the couple welcomed their daughter, Nikita, in May 2023.
“There’s definitely a lot of mom guilt and that will never go away, especially now that Kiki’s talking, and she says, ‘Mama, don’t go to work,’” Karagach says.

DWTS Season 34: Pro Daniella Karagach opens up about ‘mom guilt’
Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 21:46 , Caitlin HornikAffleck, of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and her pro partner Jan Ravnik will perform a Salsa to “NUEVAYoL” by Bad Bunny.
Ravnik joins Dancing With the Stars after touring with Taylor Swift.
Caitlin Hornik reports:

Meet Dancing with the Stars season 34 new pro Jan Ravnik, Taylor Swift back-up dancer
Hilaria Baldwin and Gleb Savchenko's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 21:56 , Caitlin HornikBaldwin, author and wife of actor Alec Baldwin, and her pro dance partner Savchenko will perform a Cha Cha to “Let’s Get Loud” by Jennifer Lopez.
Ireland Baldwin passionately defends stepmother Hilaria against critics
Tuesday 16 September 2025 22:07 , Caitlin HornikIreland Baldwin is hitting back at any negativity about her stepmother, Hilaria Baldwin, joining the cast of Dancing with the Stars this season.
The 29-year-old model, who is the daughter of Alec Baldwin and his ex-wife Kim Basinger, shared a lengthy statement on Instagram Thursday to support Hilaria’s appearance on the ABC competition show.
“I wanted to take a second to talk about my step mom @hilariabaldwin. I think if people actually knew her the way I do, they would be quite surprised. This post may come out of left field since I don’t post about her or any family members much,” she wrote alongside a picture of her and Hilaria. “I expect misinformed comments and plenty of comments about me only playing nice so I can secure my inheritance.”
Ireland went on to defend her relationship with her stepmother, noting that the yoga instructor “had a far more complex and chaotic upbringing than” people realize, which could be they “bonded.”
Amber Raiken reports:

Ireland Baldwin defends stepmother Hilaria against critics after DWTS reveal
Baron Davis and Britt Stewart's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 22:22 , Caitlin HornikRetired NBA player Davis and partner Stewart will perform a Cha Cha to “U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer.
Who won Season 33?
Tuesday 16 September 2025 22:35 , Caitlin HornikThe latest season saw former The Bachelor star Joey Graziadei and his partner Jenna Johnson coast through the competition to win the coveted mirrorball trophy.
Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher and her partner Alan Bersten came in second, followed closely by Disney star Chandler Kinney and partner Brandon Armstrong, who placed third.
Maher’s win over Kinney left several viewers fuming, as many felt the Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin actor had outperformed the athlete in both of the final dances.
Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 22:47 , Caitlin HornikSocial media influencer Earle and pro partner Chmerkovskiy will perform a Cha Cha to “Circus” by Britney Spears.
'DWTS' announces new podcast
Tuesday 16 September 2025 22:57 , Caitlin HornikEach episode of the podcast will feature the former contestant interviewing members of this season’s cast, in addition to other special guests, as they discuss that week’s dances and other behind-the-scenes facts from the episode.
The podcast will drop every Thursday and will be available to watch with video on both Disney+ and Hulu.
“I couldn’t be more excited and honored to be joining the Dancing with the Stars team in this new way, bringing audiences exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content,” Graziadei said in a statement to Variety. “I have so many great memories from my time competing (and winning didn’t hurt), so I can’t think of a better way to connect with contestants and bring deeper conversations and fun moments to the podcast space.”
Brittany Miller reports:

Dancing with the Stars announces podcast hosted by recent winner ahead of new season
Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 23:09 , Caitlin HornikTraitors star Efron and pro partner Karagach will perform a Cha Cha to “Milkshake” by Kelis.
Pro dancer Daniella Karagach on the intimacy of ballroom dancing
Tuesday 16 September 2025 23:20 , Caitlin HornikKaragach knows that chemistry can make or break partners on the show vying for audience votes.
“You are always going to develop chemistry with your partner,” Karagach tells The Independent. “But it’s our job to sell it.”
To those watching at home, it might seem odd for two virtual strangers to be thrust against each other performing intimate choreography. But for Karagach as a professional ballroom dancer, it’s second nature.
“For us growing up, you are taught to look into each other’s eyes and be nose to nose at six years old,” Karagach explains. “For me, if you don’t go close enough to each other, you’re not selling the moment. It’s very touchy-feely. You look into each other’s eyes, you create that confidence, and then if you’re not a dancer, you’re like, ‘All right, these, these guys are close. That means they’re in love.’ It’s so funny to me.”
Caitlin Hornik reports:

DWTS pro Daniella Karagach on intimacy and relationships with dance partners
Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 23:33 , Caitlin HornikActor and musician Feldman and partner Johnson will perform a Tango to “It’s Still Rock & Roll To Me” by Billy Joel.
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa keeping their song choice a secret
Tuesday 16 September 2025 23:46 , Caitlin HornikOlympic gold medalist Chiles and pro partner Sosa will dance a Salsa. They are keeping their song choice under wraps until showtime.
Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov's week one dance
Tuesday 16 September 2025 23:56 , Caitlin HornikBoy Meets World alum Fishel and partner Pashkov will perform a Tango to “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson.
Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:08 , Caitlin HornikThe Parent Trap star Elaine Hendrix and partner Bersten will perform a Cha Cha to “Woman” by Kesha featuring The Dap-Kings Horns.
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:14 , Caitlin HornikWildlife conservationist and zookeeper Irwin and partner Carson will perform a Jive to “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf.
Robert Irwin reveals plans to honor late dad Steve
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:21 , Caitlin HornikSpeaking to People, Robert shared plans to honor his father — who died in 2006 after being pierced by a stingray — on the dance floor.
“I just hope to keep his legacy alive, his spirit, his sense of just love for life,” he said. “And so if I can bring that kind of energy into the ballroom and honor him and his legacy, then I've done my job. So that's what we'll be trying to do is make him proud.”
Amber Raiken reports:

Robert Irwin reveals plans to honor late dad Steve on Dancing With The Stars
30 minutes until showtime!
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:30 , Caitlin HornikDancing With the Stars will premiere at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+.
Streaming will be available Wednesday on Hulu.
Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:37 , Caitlin HornikPentatonix singer Hoying and partner Arnold will perform a Tango to “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga.
Lauren Jauregui and Brandon Armstrong's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:42 , Caitlin HornikFifth Harmony singer Jauregui and partner Armstrong will perform a Tango to “yes, and?” by Ariana Grande.
Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:49 , Caitlin HornikThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Leavitt and partner Ballas will perform a Tango to “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI & KPop Demon Hunters Cast.
Tonight marks Ballas’s return to the DWTS competition for the first time since 2023.
Andy Richter and Emma Slater's week one dance
Wednesday 17 September 2025 00:55 , Caitlin HornikComedian Richter and partner Slater will perform a Cha Cha to “Hold On, I’m Coming” by Sam & Dave.
The show is underway!
01:02 , Caitlin HornikThe cast of pro dancers have taken the stage to kick off Season 34 — the show’s 20th anniversary — with a high-energy routine to “Kill the Lights.”
Carrie Ann Inaba's absence acknowledged
01:05 , Caitlin Hornik“Carrie Ann is under the weather and hopes to be back with us next week,” co-host Alfonso Ribeiro said.
“Get well soon,” co-host Julianne Hough added.
Inaba announced earlier Tuesday that she would not be in attendance for the premiere.
Show is celebrating 20th anniversary
01:06 , Caitlin HornikHough revealed that the show will have an anniversary party later this season to celebrate 20 years on air.
Week one: Anthem songs
01:08 , Caitlin HornikCo-host Ribeiro said the pairs were asked to pick songs they live by to dance to this week.
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa will be dancing to Beyonce’s “Break My Soul.”
Chiles and Sosa take the floor
01:10 , Caitlin HornikDancing the Salsa, Chiles wore a red, white, and blue fringed dress, while Sosa matched in a red suit.
The routine featured several gymnastics-inspired moves.
“Really amazing first dance,” judge Derek Hough said.
“Keep the integrity of what Latin dancing is,” he advised to Chiles as she proceeds in the competition.
Hough also cautioned that scores might be lower than dancers hope for as it’s the first week of the competition.
“You have to carry the heat, motion through the body,” judge Bruno Tonioli said to the couple.
No elimination tonight
01:12 , Caitlin HornikVoting is open for the evening, though there will not be an elimination tonight.
Votes can be cast via text or through https://dwtsvote.abc.com/.
Chiles and Sosa receive a 10 from the judges
01:13 , Caitlin HornikBoth Hough and Tonioli gave the couple a score of five out of 10 for their first dance. Scores will be out of 20 tonight instead of 30 due to Carrie Ann Inaba’s absence.
Fans react to Chiles and Sosa's score
01:16 , Caitlin HornikDispleased by the first scores for Chiles and Sosa, one fan wrote: “Jordan’s flips alone deserved a 10.”
Others agreed.
um a 5 is way too low like jordan was doing flips and actually dancing !! they better give the oldies 1s then #dwts
— jane (@bbxIover) September 17, 2025
Karagach and Efron take the floor
01:18 , Caitlin HornikThe pair are dancing the Cha-Cha to “Milkshake” by Kelis.
Efron began the routine by dancing on top of the judge’s table.
Judge's react to Efron and Karagach
01:20 , Caitlin Hornik“Are you trying to distract me with the sex appeal?” Tonioli joked.
“Some moments you were very, very good,” he continued. “You need to be consistent. Don’t lose it halfway through.”
Hough agreed: “You lost the timing in a few places.
“Moving forward, I want to see you step into that leading man role,” he added, noting how powerful Karagach is on the dance floor.
Efron and Karagach receive a 10 from the judges
01:22 , Caitlin Hornik“My heart’s going through my chest right now,” Efron told co-host Julianne Hough after the routine.
They then received a combined 10 from the judges; five each from Derek Hough and Bruno Tonioli.
Hendrix and Bersten take the floor
01:24 , Caitlin Hornik“I don’t know if I can do this,” Hendrix said in a confessional.
She revealed she stopped dancing because she was hit by a car.
She and Bersten took the floor to perform a Cha-Cha.
Hendrix and Bersten's feedback
01:26 , Caitlin HornikThe ballroom erupted as the duo finished their Cha-Cha.
Derek Hough told Hendrix she has a “Broadway quality” to her movement.
“What a great first dance.”
Tonioli agreed: “You played it so well.”
Hendrix opens up about returning to dance
01:28 , Caitlin Hornik“I’ve never done ballroom, and I haven’t trained in an actual studio in about 30 years,” Hendrix, 54, confessed after the routine.
“I feel like it’s worth it,” she continued when Julianne Hough asked about why she’s resuming dance at this moment in her life.
“I want to prove to myself, and to other women, that age is just a number.”
Hendrix and Bersten receive a 12 from the judges
01:32 , Caitlin HornikThe pair have the highest score of the premiere so far!
Leavitt and Ballas take the floor
01:36 , Caitlin HornikThe pair brought the drama to the ballroom floor with a Tango to the song “Golden.”
Loud cheers could be heard throughout the routine as Leavitt nailed her high kicks and Ballas swung her around in his return to the competition.
“Your performance was incredible,” judge Tonioli said.
“No messing around. Very, very, very high quality.”
Derek Hough agreed: “That was so beautiful.
“If Carrie Ann was here tonight, she would have absolutely loved that routine,” he continued.
Leavitt and Ballas receive a 15!
01:38 , Caitlin HornikJudge Tonioli put in an eight instead of a seven, and the score had to be corrected after it was initially announced.
Hough gave the couple’s Tango a seven out of 10.
They have overtaken Hendrix and Bersten for the top score of the evening!
Fans react to Tonioli's scoring error
01:41 , Caitlin HornikTonioli was initially announced to have given Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas a seven out of 10.
But then, co-host Julianne Hough announced live that he actually entered an eight, forcing a scoring adjustment.
Fans are already up-in-arms over the high scores coming on the heels of the judges announcing that the scores would be lower than usual as they look to give the dancers room to grow in the competition.
“Not whitney accidentally being given an 8 on night one that's wild,” one person wrote.
“Wait so did she get a 7 or 8?!?” another questioned.
An 8 week one is wild though, it's a pass for me on that piece #DWTS
— Tori (@toriwalkerrr) September 17, 2025
Tonioli jokes about scoring error
01:42 , Caitlin Hornik“They should lock me up,” Tonioli joked after a commercial break when co-host Alfonso Ribeiro clarified the scoring system.
Davis and Stewart take the dance floor
01:45 , Caitlin HornikDavis, a two-time NBA All-Star, picked MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” as his anthem. Performing a Cha-Cha with Stewart, the two even did Hammer’s iconic dance move.
Derek Hough said: “That was a great first dance. So much potential.”
Tonioli said: “It would be nice to see a little bit more of it,” referring to the Cha-Cha.
'DWTS' podcast launches this week
01:46 , Caitlin HornikSeason 33 winner Joey Graziadei is hosting the show’s new podcast.
Co-hosts Hough and Ribeiro will be the first guests.
Davis and Stewart receive a 10
01:47 , Caitlin HornikHough and Tonioli each scored the couple’s dance a five out of 10.
Fans frustrated by scoring and critiques
01:52 , Caitlin HornikFans are not holding back after Tonioli’s scoring error and his and Hough’s brief critiques.
“I dont have a problem with them scoring because i dont think they should start off with high scores ... but their comments are so annoying, i wish they would spend the time actually give more critiques,” one person wrote on X.
“Dylan from [sic] deserved a higher score !!!” another wrote.
don’t know how i feel about the 15 score lol ok #DWTS
— alli (@bisexuals4louis) September 17, 2025
Earle and Chmerkovskiy perform to Britney Spears
01:54 , Caitlin HornikDancing the Cha-Cha, the two did a routine to “Circus.”
Tonioli said: “You did very, very well, my darling.”
He then said: “Always remember, you have to play off your partner.”
Derek Hough added: “That was a really impressive first dance.
“Just be careful that precision doesn’t turn into stiffness.”
Earle and Chmerkovskiy receive a 13
01:56 , Caitlin HornikThe score moves them into second place, just behind Leavitt and Ballas.
Hough gave a seven out of 10, while Tonioli gave a six out of 10.
Halfway point!
01:58 , Caitlin HornikThe Season 34 premiere is flying by.
Six couples have danced, eight are left to take the floor.
Hoying and Arnold dance to Lady Gaga
02:03 , Caitlin HornikDancing the Tango to “Abracadabra,” the two wowed with high kicks and sweeping movements.
“So impressive,” Hough said.
“We have to get the fundamentals,” he added, noting Hoying’s framing needs work.
Hoying and Arnold receive a 10
02:04 , Caitlin HornikThey join several other couples in the bottom slot with a 10 out of 20.
Fishel and Pashkov take the floor
02:07 , Caitlin HornikDancing a Tango to Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger,” Fishel anticipated it being an emotional performance as she recently fought cancer.
Tonioli exclaimed: “Well done! You have a wonderful sense of movement, you move so well.
“You should be proud of yourself.”
Hough added: “That was so beautiful to watch. It was like a breath of fresh air.”
Both noted that Fishel needs to watch her shoulders and work on keeping them down and back instead of tensed.
Fishel and Pashkov receive a 12
02:08 , Caitlin HornikThey are in the middle of the pack with a 12 out of 20.
No elimination this week!
02:09 , Caitlin HornikAll 14 couples will be back to dance next week, Ribeiro confirmed.
However, voting is now open.
Affleck and Ravnik dance to Bad Bunny
02:17 , Caitlin HornikSecret Lives of Mormon Wives star Affleck wanted to embrace her Latina heritage with this routine.
Both judges were complimentary, especially to Affleck, who gave birth eight weeks ago.
She is a mom to three children under the age of three.
Speaking after the routine, she said: “It’s a lot. My body hurts. I’m still recovering from giving birth. But I’m having fun.”
Affleck and Ravnik also receive a 12
02:17 , Caitlin HornikFor their first dance, the couple received a 12 out of 20.
Fans continue to react to judge's table chaos
02:23 , Caitlin HornikFans are voicing their praise and concerns over tonight’s judging table without Carrie Ann Inaba.
“I appreciate that the dwts judges are actually being critical and reasonable with their scores this season,” one person wrote on X.
“Not liking #dwts. Judges very hard on those with no experience. Not fair. But over praising those with all the dance experience,” someone disagreed.
“Those two are a mess tonight,” another wrote.
Derek?! This judges table a whole mess tonight 😭 #dwts CAI really be keeping them in line
— Alex 💃 (@cattyice11) September 17, 2025
Feldman and Johnson dance to Billy Joel
02:25 , Caitlin HornikRibeiro dubbed the dance a “rock and roll Tango” after the couple shimmied and shook across the ballroom.
Tonioli commended the performance but added: “Now work on the technique.”
Hough said: “It was so fun to watch,” but added there is “a lot to work on.”
Feldman and Johnson receive lowest score of the night
02:26 , Caitlin HornikHough gave the duo a four out of 10, while Tonioli scored the pair a five out of 10.
Jauregui and Armstrong dance the Tango
02:33 , Caitlin HornikThe couple danced to Ariana Grande’s “yes, and?”
Hough squeeked: “That was really good. Your frame was consistent throughout.”
Tonioli agreed: “Very, very well done. You have a wonderful fluidity, an ease of movement that looks very good.”
Jauregui and Armstrong receive a 13 out of 20
02:34 , Caitlin HornikThey jump toward the top of the leaderboard in a tie for second place.
Richter and Slater perform a Cha-Cha
02:41 , Caitlin HornikTonioli said the “body of the Cha-Cha wasn’t quite there.”
“It can only get better,” he concluded.
Hough said: “This is awesome because we get to see you. I loved watching you dance.”
Richter and Slater receive a nine
02:43 , Caitlin HornikThey’re tied for the lowest score of the evening.
Fans react to the premiere
02:45 , Caitlin HornikDances and scores have been all over the place during the Season 34 premiere, and fans aren’t holding back.
“I just feel like some people are at such a clear disadvantage lol,” one person wrote on X.
“Booing bruno in the first episode we are so back,” another said.
“This is giving a proper week one. low scores and plenty of room for improvement for many of the couples. We have never been more backkkkkk,” someone else wrote.
But not everyone agreed.
Carrie Ann come back… these scores anit scoring tonight and I’m not liking it. #DWTS
— Kayla Moody (@KaylaMo73349918) September 17, 2025
Baldwin and Savchenko take the floor
02:50 , Caitlin Hornik“Dance feeds my soul,” Baldwin said in the pre-dance video montage.
She took Savchenko to New York City with one week to go before the premiere to show him her life.
Her husband, Alec, made a cameo applauding her and sharing praise. He was also in the audience with some of the couple’s children to watch his wife dance during the premiere.
“That was the best Cha-Cha I have seen from a mother of seven,” Hough said after the pair’s performance.
Tonioli agreed: “I can’t wait to see what you do.”
Baldwin and Savchenko receive a 14!
02:51 , Caitlin HornikThe duo, clad in matching lime green costumes, received a 14 out of 20 from the judges, moving them into second place just behind Earle and Chmerkovskiy.
Irwin and Carson set to perform the final routine of the evening
02:54 , Caitlin HornikIn one of the most highly anticipated routines of the evening, Robert Irwin and Witney Carson will perform last.
Irwin, whose sister Bindi won the Mirrorball trophy with Derek Hough in 2015, has spoken about honoring his father while on the show.
Amber Raiken reports:

Robert Irwin reveals plans to honor late dad Steve on Dancing With The Stars
Irwin and Carson tear up the dance floor
02:58 , Caitlin HornikDancing to “Born to Be Wild,” the couple drew massive cheers from the crowd.
“That was like, probably the best first dance I have ever seen on the show,” Hough said.
Irwin and Carson tie for the top of the leaderboard!
03:01 , Caitlin HornikThe couple received a 15 out of 20 from the judges to tie atop the leaderboard with Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas.
Week 2 theme and elimination revealed
03:02 , Caitlin HornikNext Tuesday’s theme is “One Hit Wonders!”
Sadly, two couples will be eliminated.